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  • PHOTO OF FERMOY CONVENT INTERIOR c1900 SHOWS LOTS TO BE AUCTIONED

    August 12th, 2012

    A c1900 image of the nun’s parlour at Loreto Convent, Fermoy, Co. Cork. (Click on image to enlarge).

    A c1900 photograph of the interior of Loreto Convent, Fermoy, Co. Cork shows antiques pieces to be auctioned there on August 18. The Lynes and Lynes  no reserves auction of around 400 lots features a number of items seen in this unique photograph.  The large painting on the back wall is of the crucifixion, the harp by Sebastian Erard on the left is lot 104, the mid 19th century chair to the left centre is lot 60, the table at the centre back  is lot 67.  The Victorian pole screens at the back and one of the foot stools to the front will also feature.

    The sale includes a 9′ long Victorian sideboard originally from Castlemartyr, Co. Cork, a longcase clock by Patrick Donegan of Dublin and two harps.  There is good Irish and English silverware and a collection of 19th century Bohemian glass, as well as contents from two kitchens, garden furniture and effects.   The catalogue for the sale, on the premises at Fermoy, is on-line.

    The Loreto sisters have been teaching in Fermoy since the mid 19th century.  The remaining sisters have moved to houses in the community.

    UPDATE:  The oil painting sold for 4,400, the sideboard made 3,200, the longcase clock was the top lot in the sale and sold for 6,300, the harp made 4,500, the mid 19th century chair made 380 and the table featured in the photograph made 880.  Silver and glass sold very well.

    CASTIGLIONE DOUBLE LOTUS SCROLL AT SOTHEBY’S, HONG KONG

    August 11th, 2012

    Double Lotus For The Yongzheng Emperor (1723 – 1735), Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining, 1688 – 1766). (Estimate on request).

    An exquisite hanging scroll painting by Italian Jesuit Giuseppi Castiglione is a highlight of Sotheby’s Hong Kong sales from October 5-9.   A celebrated official painter to the Qing Imperial court Castiglione’s works rarely appear on the market.  Born in Milan he took the name Lang Shining while in China. Double Lotus for the Yongzheng Emperor was executed during the Yongzheng period between 1723 and 1735.

    The sales series will feature ceramics, paintings, contemporary Asian art, 20th century Chinese art, contemporary Southeast Asian paintings, jewellery, watches and wines.  It will include selections from You Yi Tang’s private collection of Chinese paintings in Hong Kong with outstanding works by Zhang Daqian throughout his artistic career.  Here is a small selection of images, courtesy of and copyright of Sotheby’s.  You can click on any image to enlarge:

    Zeng Fanzhi (b. 1964) Fire 2007. Oil On Canvas Est: HK$7 – 9 million /US$900,000–1.2 million.  UPDATE: LOT SOLD. 8,420,000 HKD 

    Fu Baoshi (1904 – 1965) Landscape After Shitao 1942. Ink And Colour On Paper.  UPDATE: LOT SOLD. 11,860,000 HKD

    Zhang Daqian (1899 – 1983) Swiss Peaks; Calligraphy in Xingshu 1968. Set Of Two. Est: HK$8 – 12 million / US$1 – 1.5 million.  UPDATE: LOT SOLD. 23,060,000 HKD  

    A Fine And Extremely Rare Pair Of Yellow Ground Famille-Rose Double-Gourd Vases Seal Marks And Period Of Qianlong. Est: HK$40 – 60 million / US$ 5.1 – 7.7 million. 
    LOT SOLD. 107,060,000 HKD  

    BRIDGET FLANNERY AT KILKENNY ARTS WEEK

    August 11th, 2012

    Presence II by Bridget Flannery. (Click on image to enlarge).

    Presence II is the title of this mixed media on birch panel by the Irish mid-career artist Bridget Flannery. It is from her solo show now on at the Berkeley Gallery, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny as part of Killkenny Arts Week 2012. These powerful paintings have emerged from the artist’s engagement with an abstract visual language of shape, texture and colour that reflects the natural world of sea, land and sky.

    Bridget Flannery graduated from the Crawford College of Art and Design in Cork in 1981. Since then she has had solo shows in Ireland and Europe, including the RHA Dublin and, most recently, the Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast.

    1830’s TELESCOPE AT KERRY AUCTION

    August 11th, 2012

    The refracting telescope from the 1830’s.  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    This classic west of Ireland scene by Phil Higgisson is at Kerry Auction Rooms.

    AN 1830’s refracting telescope will come under the hammer in Tralee on August 14. The fine example of a country house telescope is estimated at 2,500-3,500 at Kerry Auction Rooms, Moyderwell, Tralee  Antique furniture includes a 19th century oak case clock with painted arch dial, a 19th century stick barometer and an early Victorian two drawer side table.

    There is military, Irish hallmarked silver sports medals from the 1940’s, jewellery, collectibles including a wall display signed by Muhammad Ali and five west of Ireland coastal scnes by artist Phil Higgisson.  The catalogue is on-line.

    GUN RUNNING ASGARD ON DISPLAY AT NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND

    August 10th, 2012

    The bow of the Asgard. Image copyright National Museum of Ireland. (Click to enlarge).

    The Asgard sailed into Irish history in 1914 when it arrived in Howth Harbour packed with rifles for the Irish Volunteers.  The conserved 51′ yacht has just gone on permanent display at the National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dublin.  Built in 1905 for Erskine and Molly Childers by renowned Norwegian naval architect Colin Archer, the Howth gun running vessel was later to become Ireland’s first national sail-training vessel.

    English-born Irish nationalist and writer Robert Erskine Childers, his wife and a small crew made the crossing with the rifles to arm the Irish Volunteers in response to the arming of the Ulster Volunteers in the Larne gun-running. The story is intertwined with other episodes of Irish history on display at the museum including ‘The Easter Rising: Understanding 1916’ and ‘Soldiers and Chiefs: Irish Soldiers at Home and Abroad Since 1500’.

    HEGARTY’S EVENING AUCTION IN BANDON ON AUGUST 14

    August 8th, 2012

    A number of furniture lots from country houses are to be included in Hegarty’s evening sale in Bandon in west Cork on Tuesday, August 14. It features lots from the 18th century Sunville House on The Square in Bantry and from Annedale House in Co. Leitrim. The catalogue will be on-line.  Meantime here is a small selection:

    A William IV rosewood workbox (500-800).  UPDATE: IT MADE 550

    A Japanese painted scroll (800-1,200). UPDATE: THIS MADE 380.

    A 19th century Chinese ginger jar and cover (700-1,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

    DECLINE OF 16% IN SOTHEBY’S FIRST HALF REVENUES

    August 8th, 2012

    Sotheby’s made auction history when Edvard Munch’s The Scream sold for $119.9 million in New York in May – a new world record for any work of art at auction.

    Reduced auction sales and in particular single owner sales led to a decline of 16% in total revenue at Sotheby’s in the first half of 2012.  Figures just released show total revenues of $303.9 million, down 18% over the same period in 2011. For the first six months of 2012 net income amounted to $408.9 million, down 16% on the first half of 2011. Net income in the second quarter of 2012 was $85.4 million, a decrease of 33% for the same period last year.

    The resolution of a labour dispute with New York unionised art handler negatively impacted on the first half results.  Sotheby’s believes that future labour costs have been reset in an attractive and sustainable way.  The decline has been partially offset by reductions in total expenses of $8.5 million, or 3% in the first half year.

    “Our operating results reflect some tremendous successes, but also reflect the challenging global economy, a tough comparison to the best quarter in Sotheby’s history a year ago, and a competitive climate for high-end consignments,” said Bill Ruprecht, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Demand and prices remain strong, especially at the high end of the market, as reflected in our highest ever sale of Impressionist and Modern Art of $373.3 million in May in New York”.  Sotheby’s financial services business grew substantially, he said. Private sales are an increasingly important contributor to revenue stream.  The slowdown in the Asian market is comparable to the economy there, but it continues to be very profitable and a source of “substantial opportunity”.

    “Art appears to remain an attractive asset for collectors and our consignment pipeline for the Autumn season is very active at the moment” Bill Ruprecht said. “We remain confident in the global art market and will, as always, seek opportunities to broaden and extend the breadth and depth of our relationships with our clients.”

    DOLAN’S SUMMER IRISH ART AUCTION AT BANTRY HOUSE

    August 7th, 2012

    MORE than 230 lots will come under the hammer at Dolan’s summer Irish art auction in Bantry House, west Cork on August 12.  This summer art auction is carefully designed to appeal to a broad cross section of Irish taste. It will include 14 lots from the studio of artist Val Byrne to be sold without reserve. The catalogue is on-line. Here is a small selection. You can click on any image to enlarge.

    UPDATE:  The top lot was Mark O’Neill image of a farmyard dog from the front cover of the catalogue. It made 4,500.  Works by Arthur Maderson, Arthur Armstrong and Markey Robinson sold well and the auction was 85 per cent sold.

    Val Byrne – Bantry House (450-650).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 300.

    Kenneth Webb – Macroom Castle (800-1,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 600.

    The Illustrated London News, October 8, 1853 with illustrations of laying the foundation stone for Victorian Pier, Queenstown and the opening of the new floating docks in Limerick. (23-35).  UPDATE: THIS WAS WITHDRAWN.

    Val Byrne – Sneem Village, Kerry (450-650). UPDATE: THIS MADE 350.

    Val Byrne – Kinsale (750-900). UPDATE: THIS MADE 450.

    Maurice Wilks (1910-1984) Currachs by the shore (2,500-3,500).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

    ON-LINE AUCTION OF FINE WINES AT CHRISTIE’S

    August 5th, 2012

    A collection of Chateauneuf-du-Pape features a 1995 Magnum, seven bottles of 1995 vintage and one 1999 vintage, all Chateau Beaucastel, estimate $600-800.

    Signature Cellars, Christie’s on-line only auction of fine and rare vintage wines, runs from August 6 to August 20. There are hard to source Californian wines from Harlan Estate and Screaming Eagle as well as ’82 Lafite and Labour, pre and post war vintages and magnums of champagne.

    The sale features vintage port and Bandol wines from the legendary Domaine Tempier.  A mix of collectible blue chip wines and approachably  priced selections it represents much time invested in client relationships by Christie’s North American specialists.

    This is the first in a series of planned on-line only auctions that will run in parallel to traditional sales room activity. The sale marks the next major step in e commerce activity at Christie’s.

    In the first half of 2012 growth in on-line activity at Christie’s rose by 20 per cent and there has been a 15 per cent increase in customers bidding via Christe’s Live.

    UPDATE:  The sale, which has ended, brought in  $819,715.  The top lot was a case of 1982 Chateau Lafite which made $42,350 including buyer’s premium.  There were 444 registered bidders from 29 countries and 88% of the 301 lots were sold.

    CARLO MOLLINO FURNITURE FROM CASA CATTANEO AT CHRISTIE’S

    August 4th, 2012

    Dining suite
    Oak, chestnut and linoleum, 1953, comprising of:
    Large dining table: 79 x 160 x 64 cm.
    Small dining table: 79 x 99.5 x 89.5 cm.
    Ten dining chairs, each: 94 x 38 x 45 cm.
    Estimate: £500,000 – 700,000. (Click on image to enlarge).

    A collection of furnishings from Casa Cattaneo designed by Carlo Mollino – the most sought-after 20th century Italian designer – will feature at Christie’s sale of 20th Century Decorative Art & Design next October 23. Constructed on the foothills of the Alps, and benefitting from majestic views over Lake Maggiore, the Casa Cattaneo endures as a unique and complete surviving expression of Carlo Mollino’s distinctive architecture and interior design. Casa Cattaneo is the only private villa ever designed by Mollino and is one of very few of his structures to remain intact. Comprising 10 lots the collection is expected to realise in excess of £700,000.
    From the late 1940’s to the mid 1950’s Carlo Mollino (1905-1973) produced a spectacular portfolio of works and projects including domestic commissions, hotel interiors and commercial developments. In the ’50’s and ’60’s he turned increasingly to technical projects, designing racetracks for cars, filling stations and aircraft hangers.  He held various technical patents and designed cars. Remarkably little physical evidence for such a versatile creator survives. Only a dozen of his buildings remain, most have been altered, abandoned or changed beyond recognition and furniture was produced in limited quantities for specific commissions.  Christie’s hold the auction record for a work by Mollino.  A unique oak, glass and wood table designed for Casa Orengo in 1949 sold for $3.8 million in New York in 2005.

    Casa Cattaneo, overlooking Lake Maggiore.

    Casa Cattaneo fireplace. (Click on image to enlarge).